A Close-Up: The G-Shock Full Metal Collection

Perseverance is an admirable quality that can be the root of great success. The trouble is that while you are being persistent, success often seems so far away that quitting might be a wise thing to do. That must also have crossed the mind of Kikuo Ibe when he developed what would become the G-Shock. He was gifted a watch by his father when he entered high school, and while it served him many years, it eventually broke. Ibe was then an engineer at Casio, and although his broken timepiece was not by this brand, he did realize that he was in a unique position to develop a watch that wouldn’t break. As Casio nurtured an environment of innovation, Ibe got permission to start development although, or perhaps because, his proposal only consisted of a single line: “A durable watch that would not break even if dropped.”

With this, Ibe went on a bold quest, exploring a concept still quite unfamiliar within the watch world: toughness. This was also an ability Ibe needed to possess because the development of such a watch proved to be challenging. Countless prototypes were tossed from the window of the third-floor lavatory of the Casio building, as this is how Ibe tested the free-fall endurance. Eventually, a five-stage shock-absorbing structure, utilizing different cushioning materials, proved to be the answer.

While this proved to be a great personal success for Ibe, it wasn’t right away for Casio. When a product is so ahead of its time, it sometimes takes a while for the market to recognize it. While the first G-Shock, the DW-5000C, was launched in 1983, it wasn’t an instant hit. Here, it was Casio that showed perseverance because not only did they keep it in the catalog, but they also went on to refine it. Nearly a decade later, the G-Shock was finally recognized for its qualities, being embraced by both surfers and skaters, who knew the importance of a tough timepiece. This led to a wider recognition of the G-Shock, and the further expansion of its universe.

The development of the G-Shock was not only driven by technological advancement but also by keeping up with the aging of its initial client base. As the skaters and surfers entered new phases of their lives, so came the desire for more upscale watches. At Casio, this initially meant the creation of a G-Shock in metal. This brought a whole new set of challenges, as there could be no compromise to the toughness of the watch. Where the resin can be molded easily into any shape you want, stainless steel requires a different approach. Here, the versatility of Ibe’s original design paid off, as many of the features that made the original G-Shock so robust were also implemented in the first stainless-steel model. However, it still took two years of research and development before the MRG-100 could be introduced to the public.

Embracing metal opened up a new universe for G-Shock. It allowed them to play with textures and finishes, different color coatings and shapes, elevating the concept of the G-Shock to a new level, without sacrificing any of its core values. It also allowed the brand to grow with its clients, offering a more premium experience. This would reach a new high in 2015 when the G-Shock Pure Gold Project was shown at the Baselworld watch fair. It was the classic G-Shock yet now crafted out of solid 18k gold. While this was a concept watch, it was the talk of the fair that year, and G-Shock followed up with a limited edition of 35 pieces of this watch in 2018 to celebrate the brand’s 35th anniversary.

While this watch seems to be a contradiction of everything G-Shock stands for, it is not. For Ibe, it was a dream project, as it offered the ultimate challenge: to incorporate the concept of toughness into a gold watch. First, the team from G-Shock extensively studied the material, also visiting suppliers and experts, as for them it was new territory. Then, the entire watch had to be redesigned to incorporate sufficient shock absorption, which was a delicate task as gold is about 50 percent heavier than stainless steel. The answer was found in what they call at G-Shock, ‘new shell construction.’ This meant encapsulating the movement of the watch with a resin inner case that is capable of absorbing shocks from all different directions. G-Shock’s dedication to the project also speaks from the fact that they made as many parts of 18k gold as they possibly could, which included not only the case, bracelet, and pushers, but also a wide variety of screws, all without sacrificing the toughness of the watch.

While the solid gold G-Shock was a tour de force, it was not a stand-alone project. Along with this precious watch, G-Shock also developed the GMW-B5000, which took the concept of the original DW-5000C, further refined it, and crafted it from stainless steel. While very much like its gold sibling in terms of construction, the GMW-B5000 aimed at G-Shock’s original market of people who want a lot of watch at a very affordable price. The model was, therefore, not limited and aimed to offer a lot of value. While it looked like the original, it now featured Bluetooth connectivity. This allows owners to connect the watch to an intuitive app on their smartphone and set the watch. Unlike a smartwatch, the G-Shock requires the settings made in the app to be sent to the watch, and there is no live connection. As the GMW-B5000 is solar powered, this way of transmitting information requires less energy and also means that there is no requirement for extensive software to be implemented in the watch. In fact, you don’t even need the app, as all the settings can also be adjusted on the watch itself.

Its features are extensive, and for that it takes full advantage of the fact that it is a digital timepiece. Its extensive world-time functions include an automatic switch to summer time as well as an easy swap between home time and world time, especially convenient when traveling. Next to that, it offers a 1/100-of-a-second stopwatch, countdown timer, five daily alarms, and perpetual calendar to the year 2099. Another nice feature is the automatic LED backlight function, which lights up the dial in the dark just by turning your wrist. Thanks to Multi-Band 6, the G-Shock always keeps the precise time, anywhere in the world, with Tough Solar providing all the power it needs as long as it occasionally sees a bit of light.

The true power of the GMW-B5000 is perhaps that for G-Shock fans it feels like coming home. The look, the functions, and the way you operate the buttons are very much like the previous watches from the brand, yet now, with the heft added of the stainless-steel case and bracelet, it makes the timepiece a more premium experience. While the watch may look robust and chunky, closer examination shows the extensive details that are all crafted with care and attention, from well-rounded bracelet links to a wide variety of different decoration techniques, like the hairline finish on the bezel. A screw-in caseback plays a vital role in the 20 ATM / 200 meters / 660 feet of water resistance of the watch, which also features a DLC coating.

For G-Shock, the GMW-B5000 marked only the beginning of a new generation of ‘Full Metal’ watches. While they all follow the same concept, it is especially their appearance in which their individual characters are expressed. Ion plating is one technology that G-Shock applied to achieve this. This allowed them to make the GMW-B5000GD-9 that resembled the 18k gold version with its yellow-gold ion-plating finish and inverted LCD display. For those who preferred a warmer tone, G-Shock also made the GMW-B5000GD-4, with a rose-gold ion plating. While these may be the more obvious versions, G-Shock also went into an even more colorful direction with this technology. The GMW-B5000RD-4 also features an ion plating, but this time in a burgundy red. Combined with the inverted display and black screws and pushers, it resulted in a very expressive timepiece. This watch is also the perfect example of the high quality of the ion plating at G-Shock, as it even shows a play of light with hints of orange. As G-Shock applies both brushed and polished finishes, a level of sophistication is added that is not only appealing but also makes it so that these G-Shocks can easily stand their ground in a collection of prestigious (mechanical) timepieces, to which they also make a nice addition.

Always keen to experiment, in 2020, G-Shock launched a limited edition in which they played in a unique way with ion plating. In essence, the GMW-B5000CS-1 is a stainless-steel watch covered with a black ion plating, but what makes it unique is that there is a laser engraving of a grid pattern that went straight through the plating, exposing the stainless steel underneath. Quickly nicknamed ‘Tron’ by G-Shock enthusiasts, it creates a unique effect that is further amplified by the grid pattern over the solar cells that surround the inverted LCD display. Because of the laser treatment, the lines can be felt when touched.

This is also true for the GMW-B5000TCM-1 and GMW-B5000TCF-2, which both feature a camouflage pattern made up of dots. The material of the case is titanium, making it considerably lighter than its stainless-steel siblings. With these models, G-Shock also extended the pattern of the case and bracelet onto the segments surrounding the inverted LCD display. While the GMW-B5000TCM-1 looks rather understated in its monochrome color scheme, the GMW-B5000TCF-2 is the opposite, as its base color is ocean blue. Here we also see another strength of G-Shock surfacing, as it would be quite easy to perceive these watches as a sort of gimmick. What prevents them from becoming this, and makes them actually the opposite, is once again the very high-end execution of the concept. The fact that you can feel every individual dot of the camouflage pattern might seem insignificant, but it is a tangible testimony of the high quality and attention to detail G-Shock puts into these watches.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, G-Shock launched a wide array of different watches, including a few full-metal ones. Among them are two that are crafted from recrystallized stainless steel. This special technique is used by G-Shock to harden the steel from the core to the surface and give the metal an appealing frosted effect. With the GMW-B5000PS-1, the metal is kept bare, except for the DLC coating on the caseback. Here, you see that G-Shock once again went all in, as also this metal is hardened through the recrystallization process. It also features the 40th-anniversary logo, which, along with the star engraved on the lower left pusher, further marks this limited edition. GMW-B5000PG-9 is essentially the same watch with the same features except for the gold ion plating over the recrystallized stainless steel. This gives it a unique and precious look, with the positive display adding a bit of vintage air to an otherwise very modern timepiece.

While this is not an extensive list of all the models that G-Shock has introduced over the last couple of years in the GMW-B5000 series, they do represent the brand’s boundless creativity within this collection. With only a mere 40 years under its belt, G-Shock might be a youngster among watch brands, but its track record is more than impressive and also serves as a great promise for what is yet to come.

This article is from the July / August 2024 print edition of WatchTime Magazine. To subscribe, click here.

To learn more, visit G-SHOCK, here.